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This article is part of FT Globetrotter’s Paris Guide
There are obvious complications in dedicating a pleasure palace to the memory of Marcel Proust, who spent much of his life as a hypochondriac, invalid, and recluse. Honoring an author whose long work most visitors would not have had the courage to read comes with additional complications.
But that doesn’t stand in the way of Maison Proust, a luxurious hotel in Paris’ Marais district. It leans straight into Proustian nostalgia. The event aims to evoke the glory of the Belle Époque era – the salons and soirées – with the help of the art of the time. There are nods to Proust’s connections with Impressionist writers John Ruskin and Countess Anna de Noailles.
As you enter, you’ll notice a quote written on a wooden panel. This is an excerpt from the second volume of À la recherche du temps perdu, in which the narrator, Marcel’s beloved Albertine, promises to spend the night in his hotel room. She offers him the opportunity to “sit by the bed, watch me eat, and then play whatever you choose.” Well, quite a bit. The staff also has other pieces of Proust available if needed.
The hotel’s founders, Sylvian Sanz and Yoni Aidan, also run the five-star Maison Souquet in Montmartre and the four-star Maison Athénée near the Opéra Garnier. They say they prefer their designs to be sensual rather than flashy. The ground floor of Maison Proust features a bar and restaurant area with an interesting dark decor. Dozens of plush armchairs encourage conversation. There’s enough space to squeeze in a small library, and the circular ceiling is hand-painted with sea monsters.
But the jewel in the crown is downstairs, in the basement. The swimming pool and sauna, surrounded by columns and mosaics, are said to have been inspired by the Orientalism of Aunt Léonie’s salon, where Marcel Proust spent part of his later years. Childhood”.
All guests have the 10-metre pool and hammam to themselves for one hour a day. This has many benefits, especially for travelers who have committed the age-old sin of forgetting their swimsuits (but be wary of surveillance cameras). There are also 3 rooms for spa treatments.
On the upper floors, as in many old Parisian buildings, the width of the rooms must be considerably narrower than in Proust’s novel. The 23 bedrooms and suites range in size from 20 to 100 square meters. But they make the most of the space with bold wallpaper and paintings by artists such as Leonard Gasser, Paul Albert Lawrence, and Proust’s friend Madeleine Lemaire.
My suite on the fifth floor had a view of the top of the Eiffel Tower and, in true Parisian style, the contents of the building opposite. Outside, Via Picardy is quiet. Place de la République and the Old Jewish Quarter are both within walking distance.
Proust is remembered for his idea of involuntary memory. It’s an experience that reminds you of precious moments, like a madeleine cake soaked in tea. Maison Proust’s bar serves cocktails such as La Madeleine, which includes vodka and amaretto, and Le Temps Retrove, designed by former Ritz Paris bartender Colin Field. The latter includes champagne, black truffles, and a shot of the Armagnac Château Robard from 1922, the year of Proust’s death. If there are too many of these, the result will probably be involuntary memory deficits rather than involuntary memory. That would be a shame considering the experience offered at Maison Proust.
At a glance
Rooms and suites: 11 rooms, 12 suites
Recommended for: Comfortable luxury. private swimming
People who are not so nice: Family. your wallet
See also: Le Temps Retrove cocktail costs an eye-watering 500 euros
Price: Double 1,000 euros (early January)
Address: 26 Rue de Picardie, 75003 Paris
Website; Directions
Henry Mance stays as a guest at Maison Proust
Do you have a favorite hotel in Paris? Tell us about it in the comments below. Follow FT Globetrotter (@FTGlobetrotter) on Instagram.
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